This Date in Rock Music History: June 24

1957:  A keyboard-banging star first emerged on the charts. He would go on to score 18 hits in the early years of the Rock Era.  On this date, Jerry Lee Lewis debuted with his first single--"Whole Lotta' Shakin' Goin' On".

This Date in Rock Music History: June 23

1958:  A new singer named Bobby Darin debuted on the charts with his first hit song--"Splish Splash", which eventually landed in the Top 10.

1960:  Paul Anka became the youngest performer (age 20) to perform at the Copacabana in New York City.
1960:  Eddie Cochran hit #1 in the U.K. with "Three Steps To Heaven" a little over two months after he had been killed in a car crash.  (Note:  Some websites claim the song reached #1 three months after Cochran died.  Eddie died April 17, which is barely over two months before the song hit #1.)
1962:  Orlons moved from 60 to 30 with "The Wah Watusi".
1962:  The Soundtrack to "West Side Story" was #1 on the U.K. Album chart.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 22

1956:  Elvis Presley began three days of concerts at the Paramount in Atlanta, Georgia.
1958:  Vic Damone had the #1 song in the U.K. with "On The Street Where You Live".

This Date in Rock Music History: June 21

1948:  Columbia Records began mass production of the amazing new product--the 33 1/3 RPM long-playing record.  The format would dominate music sales well into the 1980s.
1955:  Elvis Presley appeared in concert at Beaumont, Texas.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 20

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This Date in Rock Music History: June 19

1960:  The Kingston Trio debuted their radio show on CBS Radio.
1961:  Producer Bert Kaempfert signed a contract with the Beatles.  (Note:  several websites claim that Kaempfert signed a contract with the Beat Boys, who they later said became the Beatles, on July 20, 1961.  The Beatles were never known as the Beat Boys; in fact, by July of 1960, the group changed their name permanently to the Beatles.  John Lennon first formed a group called the Black Jacks, which became the Quarrymen, Johnny and the Moondogs, the Beatals, the Silver Beetles, the Silver Beats, and the Silver Beatles, before the group settled on the name the Beatles.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 18

1948:  Columbia Records displayed its new 33 1/3 long-playing record in New York City.  The new format allowed 23 minutes per side as opposed to 3 minutes for a 78 RPM record.
1964:  The Beatles performed at Sydney Stadium in Sydney, Australia.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 17

1933:  A man by the name of Vernon Presley married a woman by the name of Gladys Smith in Ponotoc, Mississippi.  They would give berth to a son, Elvis, a year-and-a-half later.
1954:  Danny Cedrone, guitarist who can be heard on the famous song "Rock Around The Clock", died 10 days after recording the record after falling down a staircase.  (Note:  some websites insist Danny died on July 17, 1954.  The correct date of death is June 17, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, and the book 'Legends of Rock Guitar:  The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists' by Pete Prown and Harvey P. Newquist.)

 

This Date in Rock Music History: June 16

1956:  The world was introduced to a guy on this date that would become a superstar.  Roy Orbison humbly debuted on the chart with "Ooby Dooby".
1958:  This famous R&B group originally known as the Roosters would go on to register 39 hits, but on this date, they first appeared on the charts with "For Your Precious Love", the first single for Jerry Butler & the Impressions.
1959:  Russ Conway had the top U.K. hit with "Roulette".
1961:  Gary "U.S." Bonds appeared on American Bandstand.
1962:  "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Ray Charles was #1 on the R&B chart for the fourth week in a row.
1965:  Bob Dylan recorded "Like A Rolling Stone."   (Note:  some websites report that Dylan recorded the song on June 14 and others say it was on June 15.  According to 'Rolling Stone' magazine, Bob recorded it on June 16.)
1965:  Petula Clark and Gary Lewis & the Playboys appeared on the television show Shindig!

This Date in Rock Music History: June 15

1958 - The Platters sang "Twilight Time" on The Ed Sullivan Show. 
1958:  The all-music show Oh Boy was broadcast for the first time in the U.K.
1959:  Paul Anka's "Lonely Boy" was the only new entry into the Top 10, but it made a huge move--18-8 on this date.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 14

1963:  The Beatles performed at the new Brighton Tower in England, with Gerry & the Pacemakers opening.
1964:  250,000 people in Australia were on hand to greet the Beatles in Melbourne.
1965:  Paul McCartney of the Beatles recorded the song "Yesterday" in two takes.  It was a significant departure from the Beatles' norm, as McCartney was the only group member on the song.


1965:  Sonny & Cher released the single "I Got You Babe".  (Note:  some websites naively say the song was released July 9.  The song debuted on the Singles chart on July 10.  It is physically impossible for a record company to release a single, mail it to radio stations throughout the country, be received by those stations, listened to and added to radio station playlists, reported to trade papers, and be printed and published by the trade papers, all in one day.  The song was released June 14.)
1967:  The Monkees began recording "Daydream Believer".
1967:  The Doors were in concert at Steve Paul's The Scene in New York City with Jimi Hendrix in attendance.

1969:  Marvin Gaye spent a second week at the top of the R&B chart with "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby".  It would hold off all challengers for four more weeks.
1969:  "Love Theme From "Romeo & Juliet", one of the Top Instrumentals of the Rock Era*, was #1 on the Easy Listening chart for a second week.  
1969:  The Soundtrack to "Hair" was #1 on the Album chart for the eighth week.  Blood, Sweat & Tears spent their 12th week in the Top Three with their debut while Nashville Skyline by Bob Dylan was #3.  
1969:  "Crystal Blue Persuasion", the great song from Tommy James and the Shondells, moved from 89 to 57.
1970:  Eric Clapton's new band, Derek and the Dominos, made their first appearance at the Lyceum in London.

                                        Three Dog Night was on their way...

1969:  The Beatles ruled for a fourth week with "Get Back", holding off Henry Mancini, who made an 8-2 move with "Love Theme From 'Romeo & Juliet'".  Elvis Presley's brilliant song "In The Ghetto" was third with CCR closing with their newest, "Bad Moon Rising".  The rest of the Top 10:  Newcomers Mercy with "Love (Can Make You Happy)", the Friends of Distinction were groovin' with "Grazing In The Grass", the Edwin Hawkins Singers dropped with "Oh Happy Day", Marvin Gaye was at position #8 with "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby", the Guess Who was still strong after 11 weeks with "These Eyes" and Three Dog night scored the first Top 10 of their career with "One".




1970:  Grand Funk purchased a billboard in New York's Times Square to advertise their new single "Closer To Home".
1972:  The Greatest Hits album of Simon and Garfunkel was released two years after the duo split up.
1972:  Led Zeppelin played the first of two nights at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.  Led Zep played for three hours and gave four encores in front of over 16,000 fans.
1972:  Simon and Garfunkel and Peter, Paul & Mary played a benefit concert for United States presidential contender George McGovern at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1975:  Gwen McCrae watched husband George score a #1 R&B and Top 40 smash with "Rock Your Baby" earlier in the year and then went into the recording studio and recorded "Rockin' Chair", which became the #1 R&B song on this date.

1975:  The classic song "Wildfire" reached #1 for Michael Murphey on the Adult chart.
1975:  Elton John's album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, which debuted at #1, continued as the top album in the land.  New entries in the Top 10 included Stampede from the Doobie Brothers, Four Wheel Drive by Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Spirit of America from the Beach Boys.






1975:  America scored their second #1 song (following their debut "A Horse With No Name" in 1972) with "Sister Golden Hair".  The Captain & Tennille were closing fast (12-2) with their debut hit "Love Will Keep Us Together" and Linda Ronstadt moved to challenge with "When Will I Be Loved".  Grand Funk had a solid hit with "Bad Time" at #4 and Chicago was stuck at 5 with "Old Days".  The rest of the Top 10:  "I'm Not Lisa" from Jessi Colter, Major Harris at 7 with "Love Won't Let Me Wait", John Denver tumbled to #8 with "Thank God I'm A Country Boy", the former #1 "Philadelphia Freedom" was amazingly back in the Top 10 for the Elton John Band and Joe Simon was at #10 with "Get Down, Get Down (Get On the Floor)".
1979:  Little Feat announced they were breaking up.
1980:  The movie Roadie, starring Meat Loaf, debuted in theaters.

  1980:  "Little Jeannie" by Elton John climbed to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.  It was Elton's 5th AC #1, following "Daniel", "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" and "Mama Can't Buy You Love".

  

The Pretenders remained in the Top 10 because of songs like one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*--"Mystery Achievement"...


1980:  Glass Houses took over at #1 on the Album chart, giving Billy Joel his second #1 album.  Against the Wind slipped to 2 after six weeks at the top.  Just One Night by Eric Clapton was surprisingly up to 3 with Pink Floyd slipping to #4 with The Wall.  The rest of the Top 10:  Mouth To Mouth by Lipps, Inc., Van Halen's Women and Children First at #6, the debut from Christopher Cross up to #7, Middle Man from Boz Scaggs at #8, the Pretenders' great debut at #9 and the Soundtrack to "The Empire Strikes Back" moving from 17-10.
1981:  The "No Nukes" concert, featuring Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and others, was held at the Hollywood Bowl.
1982:  The Pretenders fired bass player Pete Farndon.
1986:  Queen scored a #1 album in the U.K. with A Kind of Magic.

1986:  "Glory of Love" by Sun Valley, Idaho's Peter Cetera was the Biggest Mover, climbing from 62-49.
1986:  "Nasty" by Janet Jackson reached #1 on the R&B chart.
1986:  "On My Own", the duet pairing Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald, reached #1 after 13 weeks, replacing Madonna's "Live To Tell" at the top spot.  "I Can't Wait" from Nu Shooz was #3 with Billy Ocean's "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" at #4, his fifth Top 10 in his last six releases.  The rest of the list:  "Crush On You" from the Jets, Whitney Houston's former #1 "Greatest Love Of All", George Michael's first solo hit "A Different Corner" at #7, Howard Jones moved up from 14-8 with "No One Is To Blame", Mike + the Mechanics on their way down with "All I Need Is A Miracle" and Level 42's "Something About You" at #10.

1986:  Incredibly, the album Whitney Houston was still at #1 nearly a year after its release.
1989:  Pete DeFreitas, drummer of Echo & the Bunnymen died in a motorcycle accident at age 27.  DeFreitas was en route from Liverpool, England to London and was instantly killed when his motorcycle collided with a car neaer Longdon Green, Staffordshire. 

1994:  Henry Mancini died at the age of 70 from pancreatic and liver cancer in Los Angeles.
1995:  Michael Jackson and wife Lisa Marie Presley appeared on television for a live interview with Diane Sawyer.  The appearance drew an audience of 60 million people.
1995:  Elite guitarist Rory Gallagher died in London.  While waiting for a liver transplant, Gallagher spent 13 weeks in intensive care, and it was during this time that he contracted a staphylococcal infection and died as a result.  
1997:  Only in 1997 could a song of this caliber do this--"I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy & Faith Evans debuted at #1.    To let you know how hard it was, they replaced "MMMBop" by Hanson at #1.
1997:  Spice by the Spice Girls was #1 on the Album chart for the fourth straight week.  
2003:  Queen Elizabeth awarded Gerry Marsden of Gerry & the Pacemakers a Member of the Order of the British Empire medal.

 
2003:  Queen Elizabeth conferred upon Sting the title of Commander of the British Empire.
2004:  Warner Brothers bought out Madonna's shares in Maverick Records, a label she had owned for 12 years.  Alanis Morissette and the Deftones recorded on Maverick.  (Note:  some websites report the deal was announced June 13.  According to 'CBS News' and other reliable sources, the deal was announced Monday, June 14.)
2006:  AFI had the top album with Decemberunderground.
2010:  Michael Jackson was posthumously inducted and Aretha Franklin was inducted to the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame in Harlem, New York.


Born This Day:
1909:  Burl Ives ("A Holly Jolly Christmas") was born in Hunt City, Illinois; died of oral cancer from smoking April 14, 1995 in Anacortes, Washington.
1931:  Junior Walker ("Shotgun") was born in Blytheville, Arkansas; died of cancer at the age of 64 on November 23, 1995 in Battle Creek, Michigan.

1945: Rod Argent, vocalist and keyboardist of the Hollies, the Zombies and Argent, was born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England.
1947:  Barry "The Fish" Melton, co-founder and lead guitarist of Country Joe & the Fish, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1949: Alan White, drummer with John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band as well as Yes, was born in Pelton, County Durham, England.
1952: Jim Lea of Slade ("Run Runaway") was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England.  (Note:  some websites naively say Lea was born in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England.  The county of West Midlands was not created until 1976, 24 years after Lea was born, making it physically impossible for him to have been born in the county of West Midlands.  Wolverhampton was included in the county of Staffordshire in 1952, the year Lea was born.)
1958: Nick Van Eede of the Cutting Crew was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
1961:  Boy George (George O'Dowd) was born in Bexley, Kent, England.  (Note:  one website claims Boy George was born in London.  Another says he was born in Eltham, Kent, England.  According to his official website, George was born in Bexley, which in 1961 was in the county of Kent.  Bexley did not become part of the county of London until 1965, four years after George was born.)
1963:  Chris Degarmo of Queensryche was born in Wenatchee, Washington.
1971:  Billie Myers ("Kiss The Rain" from 1998) was born in Coventry, Warwickshire, England.  (Note:  some websites naively say Myers was born in Coventry, West Midlands, England.  West Midlands did not become a county until 1974, three years after Myers was born, so it is physically impossible for her to have been born in West Midlands and you will never see West Midlands listed as her county of birth on an official birth certificate.)
1983:  Siobhan Donaghy of the Sugababes was born in London, England.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 13

1958 - Frank Zappa graduated from Antelope Valley High in Lancaster, CA. 
1960:  Little Brenda Lee took a giant leap up the charts, moving from 76 to 38 with "I'm Sorry".

This Date in Rock Music History: June 12

1957:  Jimmy Dorsey ("So Rare") died of throat cancer at the age of 53 in New York City.
1961:  Frankie Avalon began a 15-day tour of South America.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 11

1957:  Elvis Presley released the single "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear".  (Note:  several websites claim the song was released June 1.  According to the book 'Elvis Presley:  The King of Rock 'n' Roll' by Jean-Pierre Hornbach, it was released June 11.)

1960:  We have those two or three moments in our lives when we have to make an important decision, choose a fork in the road.  Drummer Tommy Moore had one of those moments on this date.  Tommy decided to return to his job as a forklift driver instead of continuing with the Beatles. 
1962:  The Beatles recorded a show for the BBC radio program "Here We Go" at the Playhouse Theatre in Manchester, England.  Many of the patrons of the Cavern Club were on hand who had become huge fans of the group.
1964:  Manfred Mann recorded "Do Wah Diddy Diddy".
1964:  The Rolling Stones held a press conference on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois before police broke it up.  The group wasn't smart enough to know you have to let authorities know about things like that in advance.
1966:  Elvis Presley began filming his 26th movie Double Trouble.  (Note:  some websites insist filming began July 11, but the correct date is June 11, according to the book 'The Man Who Made the Jailhouse Rock:  Alex Romero, Hollywood Choreographer' by Mark Knowles.) 

1966:  The Beatles had a super high debut with "Paperback Writer"--#28.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 10

1964:  The Rolling Stones recorded tracks for their upcoming album 12 x 5 at Chess Studios in Chicago.

1966:  The Beatles became the first act to feature reversed tape in the background of the song "Rain", which was released on this date in the U.K.
1967:  Bob Dylan and the Band began recording The Basement Tapes.
1967:  "Casino Royale" was #1 on the Easy Listening chart for a second week for Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass

This Date in Rock Music History: June 9

1958:  Jerry Lee Lewis and producer Sam Phillips bought a full-page ad in Billboard Magazine to explain his second divorce and third marriage to 14 year-old cousin Myra.

1959:  Bobby Darin made debut in Las Vegas, Nevada; he opened for George Burns at the Sahara.
1962:  A new artist appeared on the music charts for the first time on this date.  Bobby Vinton's first song "Roses Are Red" debuted and he would achieve the tough feat of achieving #1 with his first release.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 8

1961:  Elvis Presley's movie Wild in the Country premiered.  (Note:  some websites claim the movie was released June 15, but that is physically impossible, since a review in the newspaper 'The New York Times' appeared on June 10.  According to 'Turner Classic Movies', it opened on June 8.)
1963: "Another Saturday Night" from Sam Cooke occupied the #1 spot on the R&B chart.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 7

1964: Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas made their live debut on The Ed Sullivan Show.

1964:  During their first U.S. tour, the Rolling Stones were booed off stage in San Antonio, Texas and the Marquis Chimps, world-famous monkeys, had to be brought back on stage to perform.  (Note:  some websites state that the group the Monkees replaced the Stones on stage.  According to 'Expressnews.com', the act brought on to replace the Stones was the Marquis Chips, not the musical group the Monkees.)

This Date in Rock Music History: June 6

1956:  Capitol Tower, the home of Capitol Records, was dedicated in Los Angeles, California.  The iconic building was the first circular building (13 stories and 92 feet in diameter) in America.

1960:  Tony Williams left the Platters to pursue a solo career.
1960:  The Silver Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers performed at the Grosvenor Ballroom in Liscard, Lancashire, England.
1962:  The Beatles auditioned for producer George Martin of EMI Records, playing "Love Me Do" and "Ask Me Why".

This Date in Rock Music History: June 5

1955:  "Eddy Arnold Day" was declared in Nashville, Tennessee.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 4

1942:  Glenn Wallichs began Capitol Records in the United States.  Capitol would become the home for Frank Sinatra, the Beach Boys, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, Glen Campbell, Steve Miller, Anne Murray, Dr. Hook, Bob Seger, Tina Turner, Heart and many, many others.

1956:  Elvis Presley was on The Milton Berle Show, where he was presented with a Billboard Triple Crown Award to commemorate "Heartbreak Hotel" being #1 on the pop, R&B and country charts.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 3

1953: Elvis Presley graduated from L.C. Humes High School in Memphis, Tennessee. Wonder if they had the foresight to vote him "Most Likely to Succeed".  (Note:  several websites claim Elvis graduated on June 2, and one says the graduation was June 14.  According to the official Graceland website, numerous Elvis websites, as well as the books 'Elvis for Dummies' by Susan Doll and 'Why Elvis Left the Building:  Revealing Seven Lost Years' by Heart Lanier Shapr, Presley graduated on June 3, 1953.)
1964:  The Rolling Stones taped a performance for the television show Hollywood Palace.  (Note:  numerous websites incorrectly identify June 3 as the date of the show.  'Hollywood Palace' on ABC-TV on Saturday nights.  Saturday in 1964 fell on June 6, and the date of the show is confirmed by both the newspaper 'The Baltimore Sun' and the book 'Overweight Sensation:  The Life and Comedy of Allan Sherman' by Mark Cohen.    What happened on June 3 was not the airing of the show but rather the taping of it.)
1964:  Just as the Beatles were preparing to tour Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, the Netherlands and Hong Kong, drummer Ringo Starr collapsed from exhaustion.  Jimmy Nicol temporarily replaced him as drummer for the Beatles for 13 days.
1967:  Jefferson Airplane appeared on American Bandstand on ABC-TV, performing the hits "White Rabbit" and "Somebody To Love".

This Date in Rock Music History: June 2

1957:  Johnnie Ray had the #1 song in the U.K. with "Yes Tonight Josephine".

This Date in Rock Music History: June 1

1956:  Doris Day signed a five-year recording contract with Columbia Records in excess of $1 million, which at the time was the biggest deal in Columbia history.
1957:  Sam Cooke recorded "Summertime" at Radio Recorders in West Hollywood, California.
1957:  Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, Ricky Nelson and Patti Page starred in the television special Five Stars for Springtime on NBC.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 31

 1956:  After seeing the movie The Searchers starring John Wayne, Buddy Holly was inspired to write "That'll Be The Day".

1961:  Chuck Berry opened Berry Park, an amusement park in Wentzville, Missouri.
1964:  The Dave Clark Five appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.

1965:  Johnny Rivers released the single "Seventh Son".
1966:  Filming began for the Monkees on their television series.

Trump So Easy To Figure Out

When someone is a pathological liar, it makes it easy for the rest of us.  We know that everything he says is a lie, so if Trump says it, we know the opposite to be true.

Easy smeazy.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 30

1955:  Elvis Presley was at the Fair Park Auditorium for two shows in Abilene, Texas.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 29

1942:  Bing Crosby recorded "White Christmas".
1959:  There's nothing like a summer outdoor rock concert and on this date, one of the first outdoor rock concerts was at Herndon Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.  Ray Charles, B.B. King and Jimmy Reed performed in front of nine thousand people .
1961:  "Travelin' Man" became Ricky Nelson's only #1 besides "Poor Little Fool".  Shep & the Limelights had #2--"Daddy's Home".  Roy Orbison slid into third with "Running Scared".
1962:  "Moon River" by Henry Mancini won Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards.  Chubby Checker won a Grammy for Best Rock & Roll Recording for "Let's Twist Again".
1963:  Del Shannon's cover of "From Me To You" became the first Lennon & McCartney song to chart.
1965:  Bob Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home was the #1 album in the U.K.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 28

1955:  Elvis Presley performed for the Big "D" Jamboree at the Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas.  (Note:  some websites claim Presley performed in Fort Worth, Texas on this day.  According to the book 'Elvis Day By Day:  The Definitive Record of His Life and Music' by Peter Guralnick and Ernst Jorgensen, as well as the official website for guitarist Scotty Moore, Presley performed in Dallas, not in nearby Fort Worth.) 

1957:  On this date the organization that would oversee the recording industry, look out for their interests and eventually organize the Grammy Awards, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) was created.
1965:  Elvis Presley's movie Tickle Me opened.
1966:  The Rolling Stones reached the top of the U.K. chart with "Paint It Black".

This Date in Rock Music History: May 27

1957:  A group from Lubbock, Texas released their first single on Brunswick Records for consideration on this date, and the world was about to discover one of the greatest talents ever known.  It was called "That'll Be the Day" and history was about to be made by Buddy Holly & the Crickets.
1957:  "All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley was the #1 R&B song for the fourth week in a row.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 26

1953:  Man, egg on the faces of the judges who ranked Elvis Presley second in the talent competition at the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Show in Meridian, Mississippi.  Whoever finished first came nowhere near having 18 #1 songs.
1958:  Jerry Lee Lewis played what would be his final concert of a planned 27-date tour of the U.K., booed off stage by angry British.  People found out that he had been married to his 13 year-old cousin and it was "Bye, Bye Jerry!" after four shows.  When Lewis returned to the United States, he was blacklisted from radio stations, his record company mocked him, and he went from making $10,000 per performance to finding gigs for $250.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 25

1959:  "Bongo Rock", the great instrumental from Preston Epps, was the biggest mover of the week, rising from 80 all the way to 48.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 24

1968:  The Rolling Stones released the single "Jumpin' Jack Flash".
1969:  The Guess Who appeared on American Bandstand.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 23

  1960 - "Cathy's Clown" reached #1 in its sixth week of release for the Everly Brothers.  Elvis Presley was resigned to #2 with "Stuck On You".  
1962:  The Elvis Presley movie Follow That Dream opened in theaters.
1963:  The Beatles toured with Roy Orbison at the Odeon Cinema in Nottingham, England.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 22

1958:  Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra.  

This Date in Rock Music History: May 21

1963:  The Beatles recorded five songs for the BBC radio show Saturday Club and six for Steppin' Out before a live audience at the Playhouse Theatre in London.
1964:  The Drifters recorded "Under The Boardwalk".  Johnny Moore was called upon to sing lead after Rudy Lewis had died the night before.
1965:  The Four Tops appeared on the U.K. television show Ready Steady Goes Live!
1966:  Mel Carter's "Band of Gold" was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1966:  A hot new song was moving up the chart.  It was called "Paint It Black" from the Rolling Stones.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 20

1954:  The landmark single "Rock Around The Clock" was released by Bill Haley & the Comets.  The song wouldn't officially begin the Rock Era until it reached #1 a year later after being featured in the movie The Blackboard Jungle and re-released.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 19

1958:  Peggy Lee recorded the great song "Fever" at the famous Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 18

1959: This artist changed the name at the suggestion of Dick Clark's wife Bobbie because he resembled a teenage Fats Domino.  He scored 35 hits over three decades, but on this date, Chubby Checker debuted on the chart for the first time with "The Class", in which he did imitations of Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, the Coasters, Cozy Cole and the Chipmunks.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 17

1958:  "Jerry Lee Lewis Day" was held in Lewis's hometown of Ferriday, Louisiana.
1963:  Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary and Pete Seeger performed at the first Monterey Folk Festival, held over three days in Monterey, California.
1967:  The Bob Dylan documentary Don't Look Back, reliving Dylan's 1965 British tour, premiered at the Presidio Theater in San Francisco, California.
1968:  The Monkees performed at the Lagoon Patio Gardens, a venue inside the famous amusement park, for about 5,000 fans.  (Note:  Several websites report that the Monkees appeared at Olympia Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 21, 1968.  There was not and never has been an Olympia Stadium in that city.  There was an Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, and the Monkees performed there on January 14, 1968.  The group did perform in Salt Lake City in 1968, though, but the information badly damages the credibility of the websites.  According to the official website for the Monkees, they performed in Salt Lake City May 17 at the Lagoon Patio Gardens.)

This Date in Rock Music History: May 16

1960:  The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania celebrated proclaimed it "Jimmy Clanton Week".
1960:  Elvis Presley held on to #1 for a fourth week with "Stuck On You".

This Date in Rock Music History: May 15

1957: Chuck Berry recorded "Rock & Roll Music" at the Chess Studios in Chicago, Illinois. (Note: some websites report that he recorded the song on either May 6 or May 21, but according to the book 'Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings' by Steve Sullivan, Berry recorded the song on May 15.) 

This Date in Rock Music History: May 14

                                         The top group of the 50's was born...

This Date in Rock Music History: May 13

1958:  Jerry Lee Lewis was granted a divorce from his second wife six months after marrying 14-year-old cousin Myra.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 12

1958:  The movie Let's Rock, starring Paul Anka, Danny & the Juniors and the Royal Teens opened to audiences.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 11

1957:  Buddy Holly & the Crickets auditioned for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts television program at the KFDA studios in Amarillo, Texas but were rejected.  So much for the opinion of Arthur Godfrey.

1957:  The Everly Brothers appeared in concert for the first time on "Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville, Tennessee.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 10

1960:  The Liverpool group the Beatals changed their name to the Silver Beetles.  The group, which included Stu Sutcliffe on bass and drummer Tommy Moore, along with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, auditioned to be the backing group for Billy Fury, Johnny Gentle or Duffy Power at the Blue Angel (formerly known as the Wyvern Social Club), a club owned by manager Allan Williams.   Fury, Gentle, and Power were all looking for bands, and four other groups, including Gerry and the Pacemakers, auditioned the same day.  Moore was late, so the group used Johnny Hutchinson, the drummer from the group the Cassanovas, another auditioning group.  Despite the fact that the drummer had never practiced with them, the Silver Beetles were still the class of the five.  Fury indicated that this was the band for him.  Moore then came staggering through the door and took over on drums.  Not too long afterwards, Fury abruptly decided that he didn't need a band, and the Silver Beetles were subsequently assigned to back Gentle on an upcoming tour of Scotland.  (Note:  some websites claim that the group changed their name to the Silver Beetles on May 20, but according to the book 'The Beatles As Musicians:  The Quarry Men Through Rubber Soul' by Walter Everett, the name change occurred on May 10.  Some websites say that the group changed their name from Johnny & the Moondogs to the Silver Beetles on this date.  According to 'The Beatles Bible', the group stopped using the name Johnny & the Moondogs in January, and briefly called themselves the Beatals before switching to the Silver Beetles.)
1963:  The Rolling Stones recorded their first songs, including their version of Chuck Berry's "Come On", at Olympic Studios in London.

1964:  Dusty Springfield made her television debut singing "I Only Want To Be With You" on the CBS program The Ed Sullivan Show.
1965:  The Beatles recorded "Dizzie Miss Lizzy" and "Bad Boy".
1965:  The Rolling Stones recorded part of "Satisfaction" at Chess Studios in Chicago.
1966:  Janis Joplin was invited to San Francisco by her friend Chet Helms.  Helms wanted her to  audition for a group he was managing--Big Brother and the Holding Company.
1967:  British police arrested Mick Jagger, Keith Richard and Brian Jones for various drug offenses.
1968:  Jim Morrison, seeing what he thought was abuse of audience members by policemen, incited a riot at a Doors concert at the Chicago Coliseum.
1969:  Tricia Nixon, daughter of United States President Richard Nixon, invited the Temptations and the Turtles to perform at a White House Ball.
1969:  She sang backup for Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Leon Russell and Delaney & Bonnie but on this date, Rita Coolidge debuted on the chart with her own first single--"Turn Around And Love You".
1969:  On the Threshold of a Dream by the Moody Blues reached #1 on the U.K. Album chart.









                          Iron Butterfly had their first and only Top Ten album...

1969:  The Soundtrack to "Hair" by the Original Cast was #1 on the Album chart for a third week, holding off the great debut from Blood, Sweat & Tears.  Glen Campbell's Galveston was #3, Donovan's Greatest Hits came in fourth and Cloud Nine from the Temptations was #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Nashville Skyline from Bob Dylan, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly remained at 7, Help Yourself from Tom Jones was #8, CCR came in at #9 with Bayou Country and another Glen Campbell entry, Wichita Lineman closed the Top 10.
1969:  The Beatles scored one of the top debuts in rock history with "Get Back", which debuted at #10 on this date.
1972:  Status Quo opened for Slade at Gt. George's Hall in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.
1974:  Eric Clapton recorded "I Shot The Sheriff".
1974:  Led Zeppelin celebrated their new record label, Swan Song, with a dinner at the Bel Air Hotel in Los Angeles.
1974:  The Who sold out four shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City (80,000 tickets).





1975:  She studied songwriting under Paul Simon at the University School of the Arts in the early 1970's and sang backup for Bette Midler.  She would go on to have 15 hits but she made a big impression with her first single, "Midnight Blue", which debuted on the chart on this date...for Melissa Manchester.








   
                           The great track "Shooting Star" from Bad Company...

1975:  Chicago VIII remained atop the Album chart for a second week, with That's the Way of the World from Earth, Wind & Fire at #2.  Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti fell to #3 in its ninth week on the chart, Have You Never Been Mellow from Olivia Newton-John was #4 and the posthumous release Crash Landing from Jimi Hendrix came in fifth.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Soundtrack to "Funny Lady", the Soundtrack to "Tommy" at #7, Straight Shooter from Bad Company was eighth, An Evening With John Denver came in at #9 and Alice Cooper's Welcome To My Nightmare was #10.
1975:  Apple Records, the record company owned by the Beatles, dissolved.
1975:  Stevie Wonder performed a free concert at the Washington Monument for 125,000 people in Washington, D.C. as part of "Human Kindness Day" in the nation's capital.
1979:  Bob Dylan recorded the great track "Precious Angel" along with "When You Gonna' Wake Up" and "Slow Train" for his upcoming album Slow Train Coming at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama.
1980:  "Call Me" by Blondie beat back the competition for #1, but "Ride Like The Wind" was #2 for the third week in a row.  Air Supply remained at 3 with their first hit "Lost In Love", Billy Preston & Syreeta hung in at 4 "With You I'm Born Again" and Pink Floyd was stuck at 5 with "Another Brick In The Wall".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Fire Lake" from Bob Seger, Billy Joel's "You May Be Right" at #7, "Sexy Eyes" from Dr. Hook at #8, "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer", the collaboration from Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes, and Jimmy Ruffin's "Hold On To My Love" coming in at #10.
1982:  In the "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" department:  drummer Topper Headon of the Clash decided to go.  (Note:  some websites claim that Topper left the group on May 24, but the correct date is May 10, according to 'The Drum Channel'.)
1985:  The Go-Go's, the most popular self-contained all-girl group in music history to that time (writing songs and playing their own instruments) announced they were breaking up.
1986:  Paul Simon was the guest on Saturday Night Live.  He performed "You Can Call Me Al", "Graceland" and "Homeless" from his landmark Graceland album.



1986:  The Pet Shop Boys moved up to #1 with "West End Girls", taking over the spot occupied by Robert Palmer's "Addicted To Love".  Whitney Houston was #3 with "Greatest Love Of All" and Van Halen came in fourth with "Why Can't This Be Love".  The rest of the Top 10:  Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done For Me Lately" at #5, the Outfield with "Your Love", Phil Collins' hit "Take Me Home" at #7, the Miami Sound Machine moving into the Top 10 with "Bad Boy", "Harlem Shuffle" from the Rolling Stones tumbling to #9 and "If You Leave" at #10, giving Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark their first Top 10.






1999:  Shel Silverstein died of a heart attack at the age of 68 in Key West, Florida.  Silverstein, who designed cartoons, wrote plays, poems and stories, also wrote songs such as "The Cover Of The Rolling Stone" and "Sylvia's Mother" for Dr. Hook, "A Boy Named Sue" for Johnny Cash and "The Unicorn" for the Irish Rovers.
2000:  Bobby Brown was arrested at Newark International Airport in New Jersey for violating his probation.
2000:  Michael Bolton lost an appeal against a court ruling that he stole part of his 1991 song "Love Is a Wonderful Thing" from an Isley Brothers song.
2003:  American Life by Madonna was the new #1 album.

2003:  Paul McCartney performed a benefit concert in Rome, Italy.  Proceeds went to Adopt-a-Minefield and to a restoration project for the Colosseum.
2004: Glen Campbell pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a car wreck the previous November in Phoenix.  He was sentenced in June to 10 days in jail.
2005:  Seal married German supermodel Heidi Klum on a beach in Mexico near Seal's home on the Costa Careyes.
2007:  A concert was held at the Barbican Centre in London in tribute to ex-frontman Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd, who had recently passed away.






2008:  The Bee Gees were honored with a Blue Plaque that was placed at the former London home of Robert Stigwood, the band's long-time manager and producer.
2010:  The Eagles played the second night at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia as part of the highly-successful Long Road Out Of Eden Tour.

Born This Day:

1938: Henry Fambrough, an original vocalist with the Spinners, was born in Detroit, Michigan.  (Note:  some websites report Henry was born in 1935, but 'Billboard' magazine indicates he was born in 1938.)

1946: Dave Mason, elite guitarist with Traffic and a solo artist, was born in Worcester, England.  ('Billboard' magazine reports Mason was born in 1944, but the book 'Legends of Rock Guitar:  The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists' by Pete Prown and Harvey P. Newquist says that Mason was born in 1946, and his talent agency, Richard De La Font Agency, confirms the 1946 date.) 

1946: Donovan was born in Glasgow, Scotland.

1946: Graham Gouldman, songwriter and guitarist of 10cc, was born in Broughton, Northamptonshire, England.  (Note:  the Songwriters Hall of Fame and 'Allmusic.com' report he was born in Manchester, but according to 'The Manchester Evening News' and 'The Manchester Beat', Gouldman was born in Broughton.) 

1947: Jay Ferguson, songwriter and lead singer of Spirit and later a solo artist, was born in Burbank, California.

1951: Ron Banks, founder and lead singer of the Dramatics, was born in Detroit, Michigan; died March 4, 2010 of a heart attack in Detroit, Michigan.

1952: Lee Brilleaux (Dr. Feelgood), was born in Durban, South Africa; died April 7, 1994 of lymphoma in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England.
1952:  Sly Dunbar, session drummer for Joe Cocker, Jimmy Cliff and Robert Palmer, was born in Kingston, Jamaica.

1957:  Sid Vicious (real name:  John Simon Ritchie), bassist of the Sex Pistols; died February 2, 1979 from drugs while awaiting a trial for murder.

1960:  Bono (Paul Hewson), lead singer of U2, was born in Dublin, Ireland.
1961:  Danny Carey, drummer for Tool, was born in Lawrence, Kansas.
1967:  Young MC (real name:  Marvin Young) was born in Neasden, London, England.  (Note:  some websites claim he was born in London.  According to the official website for Young MC, he was born in Neasden, a small town near London.)
1968:  Richard Patrick, guitarist and vocalist of Filter and once a member of Nine Inch Nails, was born in Needham, Massachusetts.
1971:  Craig Mack was born in Trenton, New Jersey.